4. The Word of God

The word “Bible” is derived from the Greek
word Biblia which means Books. The Bible is composed of an Old
Testament with 39 books and a New Testament with 27 books – a total of 66
books. These books were written at different times and in many different
places, but they were collected under die guidance of God’s Spirit and form a
wonderful unity. In the Bible itself these books are referred to as the “holy
Scriptures” (2 Tim. 3:15). They all constitute the Word of God because the
authors have written them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet.
1:21).

We are living in a time of great falling
away from the truth, and evangelical Christians must observe and honour the
Bible. The Word of God is a precious gift that was given to us. It is dynamic
and living, and fulfils various spiritual needs in our lives. The Word has,
according to its own statements, the following clear and unique
characteristics:

It is a revelation of God and His works

Firstly, it should be realised that the
Bible does not contain the words of men but the Word of God. It reveals the
nature of the Triune God, the works of His creation, including the origin of
man, the existence and plans of a hostile kingdom under the leadership of Satan
who was cast out of heaven by God, the wretchedness and moral depravity of
humanity due to of the Fall, God’s calling of Israel and the giving of His laws
of righteousness, His saving grace for all humanity through the death and
resurrection of Jesus, the wrath of God upon the wicked who rejected His offer
of salvation, the Second Coming of Christ, the establishment of the kingdom of
heaven on earth, and the future of humanity – the saved ones in the new heaven
and on the new earth, and the wicked with Satan and his demons in the lake of
fire. A large part of the Bible is devoted to supporting the spiritual growth
of believers and to equip and empower them to stand against all the spiritual
deception of a hostile world (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Bible is not a
collection of human thoughts about God but a Book that was “given” by God
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). The divine inspiration and inerrancy of
the Bible as it was written in the original languages has been firmly
established – among others, by the remarkable fulfilment of prophecies. The clear
revelation of Jesus Christ as God the Son is elevated far above all theological
speculation and vain reasoning.

It is associated with a Person

All the promises of God in the Bible are
related to a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the incarnate Word (John
1:1,4,14). The spoken and written Word of God testify of the Saviour, Jesus
Christ, and is therefore closely associated with Him. In Him all promises in
the Bible are Yes and Amen as He paid the price for their fulfilment on the
cross (2 Cor. 1:20; Eph. 1:7). Because of the close relationship between
Christ and the Word we cannot fully know and love the Lord Jesus if we neglect
the study of His Word (John 14:23).

It has creative power

The Word of God has creative power
(2 Pet. 3:5), also in the lives of people who were dead in their sins and
iniquities (Rom. 1:16). All true believers know that there is quickening power
in the Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. The believing Roman
centurion said to Jesus: “…only speak a word, and my servant will be healed”
(Matt. 8:8).

It is pure

The inerrancy and flawlessness of the Word
are proof of the fact that it is absolutely pure. It is unchanging and
trustworthy (Ps. 12:6; 119:140). It is worthy of all acceptance that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

It is like a fire and a hammer

The Word is like a consuming fire and a
hammer which breaks a rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29). It can soften the hardest
heart and break down every wall of resistance. If we have a teachable spirit
and receive the Word into our minds and hearts, it will be like a fire which
consumes all human theories and false ideas about life. Instead of our
distorted views of the past we will receive divine wisdom and insight, which is
described as enlightened eyes of the mind (Eph. 1:18).

It saves the souls of sinners

We must receive the Word with meekness as
its message can save our souls (Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:23). The Lord Jesus
gave intensive teachings to the disciples and opened their understanding that
they might comprehend the Scriptures that testify of Him (Luke 24:44-45; John
5:37-40). If they reject the Word they will die in their sins (John 8:24).
Jesus reprimanded them because His Word had no place in them (John 8:37). The
most important reason for their resentment of the Word was the wayward opinions
of Israel’s spiritual leaders who deceived the nation and thus shut up the
kingdom of heaven against men (Matt. 23:13).

It is spirit and life

The words of Christ are spirit and they are
life (John 6:63). After being born again we should nourish ourselves daily with
the Word to become mature Christians, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ (1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 4:13-14; 1 Tim. 4:6). This
spiritual food is essential (Luke 4:4). Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit
as only He can teach you and guide you into the whole truth of God’s Word (John
14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10).

It is a two-edged sword

The Word is like a two-edged sword that
pierces into our deepest being where it discerns the thoughts and intents of
our hearts (Heb. 4:12). It reveals to us which thoughts are carnal and which
are spiritual.

It gives direction to our lives

It directs our steps away from the paths of
sin and iniquity (Ps. 119:101,133; Josh. 1:7). By accepting the promises of the
Bible in faith we are hiding God’s Word in our hearts that we might not sin
against Him (Ps. 119:11). The lives of all people who are not anchored to
Christ and His Word have been built on sand. They will certainly fall down and
come to eternal grief when they encounter the storms of God’s judgements (Matt.
7:24-27).

It illuminates our lives

All Christians should let the light of
God’s Word shine in the world so that sinners may repent (Acts 26:18). Every
unsaved person is caught in the darkness of sin and should, by way of a
spiritual rebirth, come out of the darkness of Satan into God’s marvellous
light. In the light of God’s Word we realise our sinfulness and need for
salvation (Eph. 5:14).

It reveals the future

Prophecies that reveal future events are an
important part of God’s Word. Paul says that we should not despise prophecies
(1 Thess. 5:20). A special blessing is promised to us if we study the
prophetic Word and take its message to heart (Rev. 1:3). It reaffirms the
certainty of our hope in Christ, while also giving information on the future
strategies that Satan will follow in his relentless efforts to deceive
Christians.

It will not return to God void

The Word of God either leads to the
salvation and spiritual growth of people or to their condemnation due to
unbelief: it will not return to God void (Isa. 55:10-11). The Word of God will
be fulfilled in all respects (Rev. 17:17) – for believers and
unbelievers (Num. 23:19). With His perfect foreknowledge God knows what will
happen in the future. Consequently, He could supply our every need before the
time and also announced appropriate penalties for the wicked (Rev. 20:15). The
Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather in his repentance
(Isa. 55:6-7). That is why the message of repentance is proclaimed to all
nations (Acts 17:30-31). In the light of these facts we should hold fast the
Word of life (Phil. 2:16).

It endures forever

“The Word of the Lord endures for ever”
(1 Pet. 1:25; Matt. 24:35). It will always remain effective, never become
irrelevant or redundant, and will prevail after the present heaven and earth
have passed away. Every word will be fulfilled. Together with the psalmist we
have every reason to rejoice in our eternal God, His everlasting Word and His
enduring mercies (Ps. 19:9-10; 29:10; 37:18; 44:8; 73:26; 92:8; 111:3;
119:93,160; 135:13).

Extra-biblical revelations

Does the Lord speak to you through His
Word, or do you wait on Him to speak to you in other ways outside His Word?
Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest) explains this point in the
following way: “Jesus says: ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they
are life’ (John 6:63). That is the way God speaks to us, not by visions and
dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God it is by the most simple way of
words.”

We can avoid many fallacies if we observe
the sound principle of Sola Scriptura (only the Word). Even when we are
tempted to attach significance to dreams and visions, we are still not allowed
to convey these messages to other people as revelations of God’s will. We only
have one clear command concerning God’s will: “Preach the Word! Be ready in
season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). God has revealed His whole counsel
to us in the Bible (Acts 20:27). Direct your steps according to His Word! (Ps.
119:133).

Personal commitment

I accept the Bible as the inspired and
inerrant Word of God. It is a precious gift from heaven as God has revealed
Himself through His Word to humanity. The holy Scriptures do not only give the
promise of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life but also instructions on
how to build, strengthen and sustain this life with a view to reaching its full
potential. Through His Word, the Lord wants to make me complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. May He keep me from ignorance about His Word
which is living and powerful, so I will never be guilty of the following
reproach: “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God”
(Matt. 22:29). May the Word of Christ dwell in me richly (Col. 3:16; Rom. 10:8-9), that I may be rooted and grounded in His love (Eph. 3:17). “I have restrained
my feet from every evil way” (Ps. 119:101).